Former DPMG, Now Governor Ronald Stroman Attacks Mail Service Cuts

WASHINGTON, DC — In 2020 he was serving as Deputy Postmaster General, ending a decade of service in that position. A year later he is one of the latest to be appointed to the USPS Board of Governors, serving at his first meeting on August 6.

And in an unusual public statement at that meeting, Ronald Stroman (pictured in 2018) sounded the alarm on service cuts that target First-Class Mail and Periodicals.

“This change also has the potential to disproportionately impact our seniors, middle-and-low income Americans, and small businesses, who are our most loyal customers, and most dependent on us,” said Stroman.

“From a financial perspective, I have deep concerns about the consequences of degrading service for our premier product – First Class Mail. A product that is the most profitable, and most associated with the Postal Service’s outstanding reputation. Slowing the mail unnecessarily risks accelerating digital substitution out of the mail, especially when it is combined with one of the largest rate increases in the Postal Service’s history,” he said.

USPS Governor Ron Stroman Complete Statement at Board of Governors Meeting:

“Mr. Chairman, as you know, the newest Governors did not have the opportunity to participate in the Board’s decision in May to change our service standards.

I appreciate your decision to have a full and robust discussion of this issue at yesterday’s closed Board meeting. All Board members were given an opportunity to voice their points of view. But in spite of that discussion, the Board decided to move forward with implementing slower delivery standards for some First-Class Mail and packages. I would like to take a few minutes to explain why I disagree with that decision.

I believe the Board of Governors should guide the transformation of the Postal Service into a world-class, 21st century delivery service, that meets the evolving needs of the American people. By statute, we are required (to) meet these needs by providing the nation with prompt, reliable and efficient delivery service, while financing the Postal Service without Congressional appropriations.

In my view, the decision by the Board to change our service standards, will likely hinder the Postal Service’s capacity to achieve either of these twin goals.

At this critical moment in America’s history, with our country only beginning to emerge from a global pandemic, struggling with the Delta variant, and with our delivery service below pre-pandemic levels, intentionally slowing First-Class Mail and package delivery by changing service standards, is strategically ill conceived, creates dangerous risks that are not justified by the relatively low financial return, and doesn’t meet our responsibility as an essential part of America’s critical infrastructure.

This change also has the potential to disproportionately impact our seniors, middle-and-low income Americans, and small businesses, who are our most loyal customers, and most dependent on us.

From a financial perspective, I have deep concerns about the consequences of degrading service for our premier product – First Class Mail. A product that is the most profitable, and most associated with the Postal Service’s outstanding reputation. Slowing the mail unnecessarily risks accelerating digital substitution out of the mail, especially when it is combined with one of the largest rate increases in the Postal Service’s history. While mail will continue to decline regardless of this change, (this) accelerates that decline, (and) will erode the balanced network of mail and parcels needed to sustain our organization.”